Camera Tracking with Zi8

Camera Tracking: Syntheyes 2007
3D: Lightwave 3D 9.6
Model: 57 Chevy (origins unknown)

For those of you who don't know what camera tracking is:
Video from a handheld camera is loaded into special software that calculates the location of the camera for each frame of the video. Then this information is sent to a 3d Animation program.
This car does not exist in the real world.. it is a computer generated 3d image superimposed over the real video. By telling the 3d program the cameras location for each frame of the video the 3d program can move it's virtual camera likewise so that the computer generated image is in line with the real world video image.... thus... fake car in real driveway complete with shadows and reflections... enjoy.




Zi8: Shot in my front yard in 720p mode.

Loaded file directly into Syntheys using the default setting and solving the motion track in "Full Automatic"

In lightwave3D, I changed the cars color to Sierra Gold (a.k.a. Root-beer Brown) added realistic looking headlights and a few other touches.
I also used the Zi8 to take stills of the environment to be used as reflection maps to be added to the paint, glass and chrome.

Rendered with LW's "Real Lens Camera" and "Photo Real" motion blur"

Edited with Newteks Speed edit.

The Zi8 did a good job for such a small camera and lens. However because of it's form factor it does seam to pickup shocks and jolts more when walking than other form factors. However Syntheyes was real good at capturing even the worst of these. Perhaps I will try and rig up an steady cam for this small wonder and see what I can achieve.

Overall I think this test project came out good. If I were to do it again I would render the Car separately so I could have better color correction.

(Closing animation was done for SD video so it looks a little ruff)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Camera Tracking
• Zi8
• Syntheyes
• Lightwave
• 57 Chevy
• Stan Smith

[ericrubinoff]

Nice video. The track is pretty good. Never tried Synth Eyes yet. Well check out mine if you like, keep up the good work! Bye!

[steeljan]

Very well done.  Thank you!